Mouthpiece



Oct. 7, 1941.

R. ADKINS MOUTHPIECE Filed Aug. 14, 1940 INVENTOR.

1 /06 flaw/vs BY I y G E ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOU'IHPIECE.

Rick Adkins, Chicago, 111.

Application August 14, 1940, Serial No. 352,532

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in mouthpieces for musical instruments such as trumpets, cornets, bass horn, trombones and similar instruments which require a rigid cup mouthpiece.

My invention relates more particularly to an improvement in the construction of mouthpieces of the class described by which the instrument to which the mouthpiece is attached is capable of being tilted or lowered with the mouthpiece horizontal with the lips of the musician.

Musical instruments of the class described are ordinarily provided with a rigid mouthpiece consisting of a shank or stem with a tapered bore through the same terminating in a bell or lip portion having a bowl and an annular ridge to which the musicians lips are applied. The mouthpiece generally is aligned with the instrument. This is frequently undesirable by reason of the height of the musician, his posture while playing, or his lip or teeth structure. Accordingly, I have devised an adjustable mouthpiece of the type described capable of being positioned to a desired angle with regard to the instrument to suit any individuals requirement.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an adjustable mouthpiece of the type described that is easily and simply constructed and capable of adjustment to any desired angle to suit an individuals requirements.

A further object is to provide an adjustable mouthpiece of the type described which provides a continuous uninterrupted passageway from the throat or bell through the stem, regardless of the angle to which the same is placed.

A further object is to provide an improved method of converting the rigid aligned mouthpiece of an instrument into a flexible or adjustable mouthpiece so that the angle at which the horn is held may be changed as desired.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of mouthpiece whereby the user may adjust the bell flange so as to place the same in a desired position for playing, and to equalize the pressure on both upper and lower lips of those who have over-shot or under-shot teeth.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, upon which Fig. l is a view somewhat in perspective of a comet or trumpet to which my improved mouthpiece has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same,

showing the manner in which the stem is rigidly held at an angle to the bell flange portion;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a standard horn mouthpiece which may be converted into an adjustable mouthpiece;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the bowl portion of the mouthpiece shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the stem portion of the mouthpiece shown in Fig. 3 after the two portions have been severed by being cut on a bias, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the thimble member used to connect the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4 together.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated in the drawing, I have shown in Fig. l the usual type of trumpet or cornet l0 provided with the tubular portion l2 to which the stem 14 of the mouthpiece 16 may be connected.

As shown in Fig. 2, the mouthpiece generally is adapted to be inserted into the end of the tubular member [2, having its shank portion [4 inserted therein. The shank or stem l4 may be formed with the partially spherical enlarged portion [8 with a front face 20 thereon cut at an angle from the vertical. The stem is provided with a tapered bore 22. The bowl portion 24 is provided with the cup 26 communicating with a short passageway 28 that is axially aligned with the passageway 22. The bowl portion is also pro: vided with the bell flange 30 and a threaded shank portion 32 which terminates at a surface 34 cut on an angle and complementary to the surface 20 of the stem I4. A thimble member 36 may be provided for connecting the stem and bowl portions together, the thimble member having a knurled outer portion 38, a threaded bore 40 and an arcuately shaped shoulder portion 42 terminating in an opening 44 of sufficient size to permit the stem l4 to be disposed therethrough at an angle. With this construction, when the thimble member is backed up on the threads 32, the stem I4 may be rotated to dispose the same at a desired angle from the axial line through the bore 28 of the bowl 24. When the desired angle is reached, the thimble member may be advanced on the threads 32 and tightly hold the surfaces 20 and 34 together, at the same time holding the stem rigidly against the bowl portion at the desired angle. In this position the mouthpiece may be connected to the tube I2 of the instrument l0, and thus the angle of the mouthpiece has been adjusted to meet the requirements of the individual.

In Figs. 3 to 6 I have illustrated the manner in which the ordinary mouthpiece M of any desired instrument can be converted so that the individual can set the same at a desired angle. This is accomplished by cutting across the shank portion 46 and separating the bowl member 24a from the stem portion lla. The cut is made as shown at an angle or bias. The next step in this method of converting is to provide the screw threads 32a upon the shank portion 46. By providing a thimble member 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and by positioning the same over the spherical portion I 411 of the stem portion and threading the same upon the threads 32a, the separated portions of the standard mouthpiece havebeenv connected together. By reason of the angle cut C which has been made to separate the portions,

.a'gainst said threaded neck.

they may be revolved in the same manner as described in connection with Fig; 2- and' the operator may adjust the mouthpiece to a desired angle.

1 While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A mouthpiece comprising a bell portion, a throat portion, and a coupling element for associating said throat and bell portions, a cooperating surface on said bell and throat portions, each disposed angularly with the longitudinal center of their respective portions and spherical clamping means associated with said coupling for tensioning said bell and'throat portions at various radial positions.

2. A mouthpiece comprising a bell portion, a throat portion and a coupling element for associating said throat and bell portions, a cooperating surface on said bell and throat portions, each disposed angularly with the longitudinal center of their respective portions and spherical clamping means associated, with said coupling for tensioning said bell and throat portions at various radial positions, said clamping means adapted to engage said bell portion and screwthreadedly engage said throat portion. I

3. A mouthpiece comprising a bell portion, a

throat portion having a screw-threaded portion,

and-acoupling element for associating said throat and'bell portions, a co-operating surface on said bell and throat portions, each disposed angularly with the longitudinal center of their respective portions and spherical clamping, means asso- 5. A mouthpiece construction comprising a stem portion, a powl portion, a semi-spherical knuckle associated with said stem portion having a frontal face out along a plane at a bias with the transverse plane of said stem portion, a threaded neck integral with said bowl portion having a surface cooperating with said frontal surface and also cut on a bias with the transverse plane, and means for clamping said knuckle against said threaded neck comprising a semispherical thimble having cooperating threads for associating with said threaded neck.

6. A mouthpiece construction comprising a stem portion having a passage therethrough, a bowl portion having a passage therethrough, a semi-spherical knuckle associated with said stem portion having a frontal face out along a plane at a bias with the transverse plane of said stem portion, a threaded neck integral with said bowl portion having a surface cooperating with said frontal surface and also cut on a bias with the transverse plane, and means for clamping said knuckle against said threaded neck comprising a semi-spherical thimble having cooperating threads for associating with said threaded neck whereby said passageways form a continuous passageway in any angular disposition of the same.

'7. In a mouthpiece for wind instruments of substantially concentric form and having a continuous bore centrally thereof, the combination with a bowl having a threaded neck and a sealing surface at a bias plane to its said central bore, a stern having a universal knuckle berm inating with a bias plane symmetrically opposite to said first mentioned bias plane, and a thimble having an internal semi-spherical surface and a threaded portion for engaging-the threads of, said bowl threaded neck.

RICK ADKINS: 

